...recovering the publication history of a single 19th century book.

ABOUT: Frank Moore Lupton began publishing domestic and agricultural reference works in New York under the imprint F.M. Lupton around 1882. By 1888 his firm was located at 63 Murray Street, [before 1892] moved to 106-108 Reade Street, [in 1892] to 65 Duane Street and began publishing sets and series of literary works on a massive scale.... The Bijou, Souvenir, and Elite series of paperback books were priced at six to seven cents each in lots of 100, while the clothbound Stratford, Avon, and Lenox twelvemo series were priced at eleven to fourteen cents in lots of 1,000.... The firm moved to 72-76 Walker Street in 1894.... In 1897 J.M. Ruston, formerly of Hurst and Company, became manager of The F.M. Lupton Publishing Company.... The firm moved in 1899 to 52-58 Duane Street.... In 1902 moved to 23-27 City Hall Place and changed name to Federal Book Company. (DLB 49). ... Of all the publishers of cheap books during the 1880s there were few to rival the cheapness of F.M. Lupton's productions. Lupton began in 1882 the Leisure Hour Library, short classics at three cents for a single number and six cents for a double number. In the latter part of the 1880s Lupton was publishing cheap cloth-bound books. (Shove). See also F. M. Lupton Co./Federal Book Company

LUCILE’s ISSUED BY F.M. Lupton and F.M. Lupton Publishing Company:

Twelvemo Editions

1894 PTLA:The Avon 12mos. Printed in large type upon good paper, cloth. Imitation half-Bound, full gilt back, head bands and fancy linings. The books in this series average 1 1/8 inches in thickness, and it is by far the finest edition of 12mos. ever sold at a low price. The present list of titles embraces 239, to which additions will constantly be made. Price, 35 cents each. [Cut].

----. The Princeton 12mos. Printed type on a fine grade of paper, and bound in extra cloth, library style, plain sides, gold backs, head bands, fancy linings and gilt tops. A well-made book in every particular. / This superior line of the choicest popular books is specially designed to meet the demand for a really fine book at a moderate price. The list of 122 titles embraces the best standard works in the language. / Price, 50 cents each. [Cut].

----. The Lenox 12mos. The books in this series are printed in large type upon a fine grade of paper, and handsomely bound in Half Russia, full gilt, with leather corners, marbled sides, marbled sides and marbled edges. They embrace a selection of the choicest titles in the English language, and will be found among the best selling books ever published. Retail price, 75 cents each. Our present list embraces 122 titles.... [Cut showing Avon binding].

----. Popular Two Volume Sets. Put up in boxes. [Cut; Lucile is paired with Goethe's Faust]. Clo., Im. Half Bound, Full Gilt Back, per set $0.75... Cloth, Library Binding, Gilt Top, per set 1.00... Half Russia, per set 1.50... Half Calf, per set 2.00.

1898 PTLA: The Windsor 12mos. This famous series is printed on good paper, from large type, and consists of 325 titles of the very best and most rapid selling books published. They are bound in a new style of Linen Cloth, of several attractive and striking colors, especially made for this series, and stamped in Genuine Gold and Two Colored Inks. The design for the cover is an original drawing, made for this line by a well-known artist, and makes, beyond a doubt, the most unique and attractive book cover on the market.... / The publication of this series is a radical and welcome departure in the production of low-priced books. / Read the list of titles carefully. Retail price, 30 cents each. [Cut].

----. The "Lupton" Gilt Top 12mos. This is an Entirely New Departure in the making of Gilt Top 12mos. / The series consists of 120 Selected Titles, printed on Antique Laid Paper from Large Type Plates. Inset portraits and title pages. Bound in a special cloth, in several shades, and stamped on side and back in four different combinations of Gold and Ink. / The design for the cover is by the celebrated artist, Mr. G.A. Traver. No Gilt Top 12mo, heretofore published at a low price, equals this book in any particular. / Printed wrappers. Retail price, 50 cents each.

----. The Elite Series. Comprising the best standard works of fiction. 12mo size. / These books are thread sewed (not wired). Printed from large type on good paper, and bound in very attractive covers. / A number of important additions have been made to the list, making it the best and most complete on the market. Retail price, 25 cents.[Cut].

1901 PTLA: The Windsor 12mos. This famous series is printed on good paper, from large type, and consists of over 400 titles of the very best and most rapid selling books published. They are bound in a new style of Linen Cloth, of several attractive and striking colors, especially made for this series, and stamped in Genuine Gold and Two Colored Inks. The design for the cover is an original drawing, made for this line by a well-known artist, and makes, beyond a doubt, the most unique and attractive book cover on the market.... / The publication of this series is a radical and welcome departure in the production of low-priced books. / Read the list of titles carefully. Retail price, 30 cents each. [Cut; differs from 1898].

----. The "Lupton" Gilt Top 12mos. These books are printed from Large Type plates on a Fine Quality of Book Paper and are bound in an Extra Finished Cloth. Titles stamped in Gold. Inset frontispieces. / The list consists of 248 Selected Titles.... No other line of Gilt Top 12mos, published at less than $1.00, equals this Series. / Printed wrappers. Retail price, 50 cents each. [Cut; differs from 1898].

----. The Elite Series. Comprising the best standard works of fiction. 12mo size. / These books are thread sewed (not wired). Printed from large type on good paper, and bound in very attractive covers. / A number of important additions have been made to the list, making it the best and most complete on the market. Retail price, 25 cents. [Cut; differs from 1898].

Other Known Twelvemo. Copies

Sixteenmo Editions

1898 PTLA: The "Daisy" 16mos. Something Entirely New in 16mos. / The design on the Cover is an Open Scroll with flowers. The Cover is Heavily Embossed, the idea being to show the open scroll in perspective. The series consists of 82 Titles, including "Prince of the House of David," "Samantha at Saratoga," Etc. / These books are printed on Extra Laid Paper, with Inset Portraits and Title Pages. Bound in Five Different Shades of Linen Cloth and stamped in Five Different Combinations of Ink and Silver. Printed Wrappers. Price, 40 cents each. / No "Dutch Metal," with or without varnish, is used on any of our publications. [Cut]

Melville Edition

No Date [1892 or later]. The Gold Series. 16mo. edition with added half title page with text "The Gold Series / The F. M. Lupton Publishing Co."

NOTE

Frontispiece and decorative title page used in both 12mo and 16mo editions.